Saving Saul by Louise Lennox Release Blitz! #savingsaul #authorlouiselennox

 

When Tessa Baptiste agrees to join a dating show where connections are built sight unseen, she’s shocked to find herself falling for Saul Mensah. 

Their connection feels destined and his charismatic voice makes her feel things she never imagined—until reveal day when Saul vanishes, leaving Tessa heartbroken. 

Tessa tries to move on, but when Saul reappears, desperate for a second chance and with a confession that turns her world upside down, she has to decide if she can forgive the man who broke her heart.

Fans of Christina C. Jones and Alexandria House will devour Saving Saul by Louise Lennox, a steamy, second-chance romance.

 

Saving A Tale of Fate and Forgiveness 

Tessa Baptiste is used to rejection—it’s the life of a struggling actress. But when she agrees to join Love, Unmasked, the hit dating show where connections are built sight unseen, she’s shocked to find herself falling for someone. Behind the wall is Saul Mensah, a charismatic voice that makes her feel seen, heard, and adored in ways she never imagined. Saul, a former rugby star turned rising culinary icon, isn’t on the show to find a soulmate.

 His new restaurant needs publicity, and his Ghanaian grandmother insists he needs a wife. He never expected Tessa—a witty, vulnerable woman who breaks down his carefully constructed walls. Against all odds, he finds himself believing in something he thought was a love. Their connection feels destined—until reveal day, when Saul vanishes, leaving Tessa humiliated and heartbroken with nothing but a cryptic You’re better off without me.

Back home in New Orleans, Tessa tries to move on, but dreams and visions of Saul haunt her. Her family’s ties to the city’s magical history warn her that their connection may be more than it seems. Meanwhile, Saul struggles to protect Tessa from the dangerous secret that forced him to leave. When he reappears in her life, desperate for a second chance and with a confession that rocks her world, Tessa must decide if she can start a new life with the man who broke her heart. Can love survive betrayal, danger, and the mysterious pull of fate?

Saving Saul is steamy second chance novel that mentions domestic violence which some readers may find triggering. A full list of the warnings will be found in the book. Saving Saul was formally a short story titled Hot Hex on a Platter in the anthology Once Upon a Halloween Night. It has been revised with new themes, a revamped plot, and a word count that has more than tripled in size (from 15K to 55K). Enjoy!

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Excerpt

Copyright 2025 Louise Lennox

“Ten seconds to the reveal!” the director’s sharp, businesslike voice calls out, pulling me from my thoughts. I take my place before the double doors, nerves zipping through my body like static electricity. My palms are damp, and my heart beats in triple time as I smooth down the dress, pretending to calm myself. 

  "In five, four..." Oh, God. It’s happening. My life is about to split into before and after.

"Three, two..." My grandmother always said, “When God closes a door, He opens a window.” Saul is my window, and I hope he never shutters.

"One, reveal!" The doors swing open, and I’m greeted by blinding light, the kind that floods a stage when the final act crescendos. My eyes take a moment to adjust, the scene before me swimming into focus. But there’s no applause, no sigh of awe from Saul as he sees me for the first time. Only silence. Deafening, gut-punching silence. 

The cameras hover, eager vultures waiting for the fairy tale to unfold. But where Saul should stand, there’s only space. The champagne glasses on the loveseat remain untouched, the fizz bubbling mockingly in their flutes. “Saul?” 

I whisper, the name escaping on a thread of hope that unravels into nothing. My voice echoes in the cavernous studio, unanswered. My smile freezes, tight and fragile, as whispers ripple through the crew. "Keep Rolling!" The director’s voice slices through the thick tension, and the room bursts into motion—producers barking orders, assistants scrambling to adjust the live feed, and crew members avoiding my gaze. My stomach churns, and the warmth I’d clung to moments ago evaporates, leaving only the cold sting of humiliation. Where is he?

My thoughts are a kaleidoscope of panic and confusion as I scan the room, searching for an answer. My legs feel unsteady, and my breath is shallow. I can feel the cameras, their lenses trained on me, capturing every tremble of my lips, every flicker of emotion across my face. “Stay composed, Tessa,” I murmur to myself, but it’s like trying to plug a leaking dam with my bare hands. 

The producer, Gavin Turner, strides toward me with a look that makes my blood run cold. His usually confident demeanor falters, and his mouth speaks a grim line as he reaches me. “Tessa,” he says softly, his voice low, meant only for me. “We need to talk. Offstage.” “Is it about Saul?” I ask, the words barely a whisper. The answer is already written on his face, but I need to hear it. I need to understand. He nods, his gaze heavy with something I don’t want to name. “Come with me.” I follow him, my feet moving on autopilot as he leads me away from the cameras and the prying eyes. 

The corridor feels colder and darker, as though I’m walking into the belly of something terrible. “Tessa, there’s been... an incident,” Gavin begins, the words struggling to find purchase. “Saul’s gone, and all he left was this note. It’s addressed to you.” The word hits me like a slap, sharp and stinging, leaving me breathless.

 “Gone?” I echo, the sound foreign and disjointed. “That’s impossible. There must be some mistake.” Gavin’s expression is pained, his tablet dangling uselessly at his side. “I wish it were, Tessa. But he’s been gone since yesterday. He’s not coming .” And they’re just telling me now?

 Oh, right, the show must go on; this is prime-time drama for them—a jilted fiancee-perfect. But this is what I wanted. To be the most talked about cast member of this show. Now, I’d give anything to crawl away in obscurity, Shit. The world tilts, and I grasp the wall for support, the cool surface grounding me in this incomprehensible reality. 

My love story—the one I’d built in my heart and soul—crumbles before my eyes, the pieces too sharp to touch. “Tessa, I’m so sorry,” Gavin says, his hand hovering near my shoulder, unsure if comfort is possible. Tears prick my eyes, hot and unbidden, but I don’t let them fall. Not yet. Not here. The cameras may be hidden, but their ghost lingers. I won’t shatter—not where they can see. 

I straighten, drawing on every ounce of strength New Orleans gave me. “Turn off the camera,” I whisper, my voice steady despite the quake in my chest. “Now!” 

Gavin nods, signaling someone beyond my limited field of vision, but it takes an eternity for the red recording lights to blink out. In that span, the bustling set transforms into a frenzy. Producers scurry with headsets clutched to their ears, voices raised over the sudden cacophony. 

Someone is calling for a commercial break, another is barking orders about cutting the live feed, and all the while, I'm standing here, adrift in disbelief. "Are you sure?" 

My question is a whisper lost in the chaos, directed at no one and everyone at once. This can't be happening—not to Saul, not to us. But Gavin's solemn nod cuts through the noise, a silent confirmation that shatters any lingering hope. 

  Saul is gone, and I must face the shame of being left alone…alone. The cameras might have stopped rolling, but their lenses remain pointed at me, hungry for the moment my composure crumbles completely. I won't give them that satisfaction—not here, not with the world watching. 

With trembling hands, I smooth down the vibrant fabric of my dress, a futile attempt to steady myself. Then, I run away to the comfort of a nearby dressing room. When I’m finally alone, it hits me—all of it—the betrayal, the shame, the love that feels like it’s dying in my chest. 

I press my back against the door, the cool wood grounding me as the first tear spills over, carving a hot, salty path down my cheek. "Damn it, Saul," I whisper, the sound swallowed by the quiet of the room. My reflection stares back from the vanity mirror, and I hardly recognize the woman staring back at me. 

My mother’s pearls around my neck catch the light, their iridescence mocking me with their perfect, unbroken form. My fingers work to unclasp the strand, the incredible weight pooling in my palm. They’re hot to the touch, reminding me of who I am— a woman rooted in strength and legacy who doesn’t crumble, no matter how heavy the storm. I close my eyes, drawing a deep breath, the scent of foundation and hairspray grounding me. 

"New Orleans didn’t raise a quitter," I murmur, the mantra steadying my trembling heart. Something must be wrong. What’s in this stupid note? He loves me, and he wouldn’t do this! Would he? I opened the note with shaky resolve. In perfect block lettering, he wrote, Patrick is free. You’re better off without me. What the hell is that supposed to mean? I know what he said in the hub about what he would do if they set Patrick free, but Saul Mensah is no killer. 

That’s a bit far-fetched. So, what exactly has he gone off to do without me and the promises he made? Is he calling the police? Is he relocating his grandmother and sister? Is he appealing the decision? I take a deep breath and collect myself. This is crazy. I should forget him and this ordeal and head back to New Orleans. This show will eventually air next year, and I know the cameras, the questions, the humiliation—they’ll come. But if I’m home, so will the bayou, the embrace of my city, and the unshakable truth of who I am. Still, I can’t shake the feeling of being pulled toward Saul Mensah again.

 Maybe it’s fate, maybe it’s madness. But one thing is certain: I won’t leave LA until I find him and get some answers. No one plays in Tessa Baptiste’s face and gets away with it. No one.

Buy Now or Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

About Louise Lennox: Contemporary Romance Author with Heart and Heat

Louise Lennox is a hopeful romantic who crafts steamy, heartfelt tales of love and healing. A proud Spelman College and Georgetown Louise Lennox is a hopeful romantic who crafts steamy, heartfelt tales of love and healing. A proud Spelman College and Georgetown University graduate, she is passionate about creating meaningful stories that celebrate Black women as the stars of their romantic journeys. Motivated by the lack of positive love stories featuring women like herself, Louise founded #HappyBlackRomance. 

Through her novels, Louise highlights the beauty, resilience, and joy of love across the diaspora. She inspires readers from all backgrounds to embrace its richness and undeniable allure. Her stories are filled with sparks, unforgettable passion, and characters who make the world a better place through their love.

When she's not writing, Louise is a dynamic school leader, devoted wife, and proud mom to two lively kids she affectionately calls her "dragons.

Discover more about Louise, her mission, and the #HappyBlackRomance movement—and snag a free book—at www.lovelouiselennox.com.

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Unnatural Intent by Brooke L French October 24, 2024 Book Blast!

A Letty Duquesne Thriller

The last one they sent didn't come back.

Disease ecologist Letty Duquesne is barely settled in to her new job when a colleague goes missing in the field. Letty arrives in Alaska's Katmai National Park to take over the investigation, only to find a violent welcome and the case in shambles. No record of the last scientist's work exists. His footsteps at the incident site disappear into nothing. And the polar bears Letty has been sent to find are hunting for human prey a thousand miles from the pack ice where they belong.

If Letty can't figure out why, more people will die. An unimaginable threat lurks under the icy waters of the Arctic, animals stalk the people of a tiny seaside village, and the greatest danger waits where Letty least expects it.

Praise for Unnatural Intent:

"Field research has never been so riveting—and potentially deadly. Unnatural Intent is a tense combination of scientific detective work and corporate intrigue, set within the brutal but starkly beautiful landscape of the Arctic, where man is no longer an apex predator."
~ Regina Buttner, author of The Revenge Paradox

"Unnatural Intent is like Michael Crichton’s State of Fear meets Michael Connelly’s The Rapture of the Deep..."
~ Cam Torrens, award-winning author of Stable and False Summit

"French weaves a complex tale of corporate greed, ecological disaster, and survival in this thriller, inserting you deep into the minds of her characters. The science is as accurate as it is terrifying, and the plot twists will keep you engaged until the final chapters."
~ Gary Gerlacher, author of the AJ Docker thriller series

Book Details:

Genre: Action and Adventure, Medical Thriller

Published by: Black Rose Writing

Publication Date: October 24, 2024

Number of Pages: 319

ISBN: 9781685134976 (ISBN10: 1685134971)

Series: A Letty Duquesne Thriller, Book 2 | Each is a Stand-Alone

 Book Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Black Rose Writing

Read an excerpt:

Chapter 1

October 16, 2018
San Diego, California

Letty Duquesne wound her way through the ornate Spanish architecture of Balboa Park, dodging tourists and scanning the crowd. Even on a weekday, the place was packed. Families taking photos, school kids on their way to one of the twenty-plus museums spread throughout the park, and an assortment of street musicians playing everything from Mozart to Bon Jovi.

She dropped a few dollars in an upturned hat and aimed for the shade of an archway. As much as she wanted to pretend otherwise, her shift from the familiar comfort of working in academia to her current situation — a new job, in a new company, in a new city — hadn’t been exactly smooth. No matter how committed she was to making the Jessa Duquesne Foundation a success, the past month she’d spent “starting over” was harder than she’d expected.

Lonelier.

Which was how she’d wound up on the friendship equivalent of a “first date.”

Letty scanned the crowd again and, this time, spotted Gemma on the opposite side of the lily pond, waving to her from the foot of the Botanical Building.

The JDF’s office manager and general jack-of-all-trades looked like Debbie Harry. She had a shock of what had to be home-dyed platinum-white hair, Doc Martens, and jeans that had been hacked off mid-calf.

Gemma pointed to a short stone bench, her eyebrows raised in a question — this good?

Letty gave her a thumbs-up and made her way through the crowd to where Gemma now sat cross-legged on the bench. “This is perfect.” Letty smiled as she sat beside her. “Thanks for meeting me.”

“Thanks for the invite.” Gemma slid a silver packet from the pocket of her oversized blazer, her voice kissed with a South London accent. “I usually eat at my desk. But with everything that’s been going on, I’m glad for the break. I’m knackered.”

“I bet.” Letty pulled a takeout salad from her bag and balanced the plastic clamshell on her lap. “Seems like getting Mark ready for tomorrow’s presentation took a full-court press.” The handful of people that made up the foundation’s on-site staff had been in and out of his office all day, every day for the past week. Mark would be at his desk when she arrived in the morning and still there when she left each night, poring over binder after binder of data. Reviewing everything the foundation had been able to find about the rise in animal attacks, the increase in zoonotic diseases crossing over to the human population, and the myriad governmental responses… or failures to respond.

In a reasonable world, the volume of the data alone would’ve been enough to establish the need for greater action. The need for some centralized agency, like Jessa’s foundation, to manage a response. But, of course, things didn’t work that way. Not when half the congressional committee formed to look into the public’s concerns were the same folks who claimed climate change was a hoax.

The thready notes of “Livin’ on a Prayer” slipped through the courtyard, the street musician’s violin shrill but on beat.

“You have no idea how mad it’s been.” Gemma ripped open the silver packet and pulled out a rainbow-sprinkled Pop-Tart. “Usually Mark’s only in after hours. He’s got to be at Stafford Oil during business hours, but lately he’s at the foundation all the time. And he’s stressed as hell.” She picked a sprinkle from the top of the pastry and popped it in her mouth. “At least Kathryn came to the rescue. I can’t imagine how we would’ve gotten Mark ready without her helping to manage his Stafford Oil work load this week.” Gemma chewed another bite and swallowed. “Even if having her here does set my teeth on edge.”

“Really?” Letty forked through her salad, building the perfect bite of chicken, feta, and cucumber. “She seems nice enough.” And the day Kathryn had arrived had been the only time Letty had seen Mark smile since she’d come to California.

“She’s alright, I guess. Does so much for the JDF, she should be on payroll.” Gemma shrugged, brushing crumbs from her jeans. “I just don’t trust anyone that doesn’t age.”

Letty laugh-choked on a piece of lettuce. Kathryn’s Upper East Side vibe was sort of intimidating. “Well, Botox or not, I’m glad she’s gonna be there tomorrow to back him up.” They had too much riding on what happened at that meeting for Mark to go it alone. There was only so much the foundation could do to identify what might be causing the changes they were seeing in the animal world without having access to real-time information about what was happening globally. As much good as they were doing handling any individual case, it wouldn’t be enough to make a real difference unless they could see the trends and follow them back to the source.

Poor Mark had to know how much was riding on tomorrow’s presentation, had to feel the weight of what failure would mean. Especially when the foundation’s future would be decided by a bunch of political cronies. “I can’t imagine how stressed he must be. I mean, who gets called to speak before a congressional committee?”

“He didn’t exactly get a summons. He volunteered, so that’s a little less scary. And he’s there for the greater good. Maybe he’ll get a nicer reception than they give their usual lot.”

“True.” The other CEOs who spoke before congressional committees were usually there to get a public reprimand. A slap on the wrist after they’d used the corporate structure to get away with one form of mass destruction or another. And those people were nothing like Mark. She felt an odd sense of pride in her once almost brother-in-law, now boss, even though she couldn’t claim responsibility for all the work he’d done in Jessa’s memory. For all the things he was still trying to do.

Letty picked her way through the salad. Where would he be now? On a plane? Probably halfway to DC, with his dark head bent over another binder. Wearing the glasses that made him look so much more serious than he did in her memories.

The ones she shouldn’t be thinking about.

Gemma popped open an energy drink. “All we can do at this point is keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.”

“Yeah, for sure.” Letty cleared her throat, forcing herself back to the present. To reality. “I’m glad we did this.” She looked up at the palm trees swaying above them, then to the giant lath structure of the Botanical Building reflected in the pond. Built for a world’s fair more than a hundred years before, it still stood proud and beautiful, giving them shade on a day too warm for October. “It’s nice to be outside for a bit.”

“Careful what you ask for.” Gemma broke off another piece of pastry. “I’m surprised they didn’t just skip orientation and send you out into the field already. We’ve been swamped all summer and now into the fall, every scientist on the team out on assignment since the doors opened. Seems like every other day we get a request from somewhere. Mountain lions turning the hiking trails in Oakland into a buffet. Or some crazy hyper-virulent bird flu popping up in the middle of Copenhagen. God knows what’s next.”

Letty shoved a bite of salad in her mouth, chewing it along with the guilt she’d been trying to ignore since she’d realized how understaffed the foundation was. A situation that was in some part — maybe a large part — her fault.

She’d been meant to start working with the foundation in August. But it had taken longer than she’d expected to end her lease, to close up her life at the university, to say goodbye to Bill and Priya. And, then, she hadn’t wanted to miss Andrew’s wedding. A smile flickered over her face. Renee had been beautiful at the ceremony, she and Andrew both glowing over Renee’s baby bump.

Of course, she hadn’t realized her delay would leave the foundation short a scientist. She cringed. It was not an ideal situation for them to be in as Mark prepared to offer up their services to the world.

Literally.

Gemma finished her Pop-Tart and took another deep swig from an eye-poppingly chartreuse can of caffeine. “You know, if Mark convinces the committee to let the foundation manage the country’s national response, you may never see the inside of an office again.”

Letty couldn’t imagine anything better. She stabbed a cucumber with her fork. “I’d almost always rather be in the field.” And a little space from Mark wouldn’t be a bad thing either. He’d be back in a few days, and so would the awkward silences that cropped up anytime the two of them were alone together.

It wasn’t that he was rude. He’d taken her to lunch when she first started, said all the right things — he was so glad she was there, she should let him know if she needed anything, maybe they could grab a coffee or he could help her get settled. But it was stilted, and no matter how nice he was when they ran into each other in the halls or at the office coffee pot, she could never think of what to say. She put her fork down with the cucumber still stuck to the tines. It was like the past clogged up her throat, wrapped her brain in cotton, and nothing but basic banalities would come out. If that.

He had eventually stopped trying.

Which was almost worse.

Gemma’s phone rang from her purse. As she went digging for it, a huge brown bird with white markings swooped through the promenade. It narrowly missed a camera-laden tour group, the crowd ducking and screeching as it swept past.

A red-shouldered hawk.

Letty tracked the bird’s ascent back into the sky as it rounded over the Botanical Building and came back for a second pass. What was it after? She scanned the ground for a mouse or chipmunk. Maybe a smaller bird? Hawks would eat most anything their size or smaller. Although it was odd for it to be hunting here, in a place so crowded with people.

“This is Gemma.” Her new friend finally answered the call, her tone now formal and pure Queen’s English, which meant the call must be important. Something for the foundation. “I’m sorry. I didn’t quite hear that. Could you start again from the beginning?”

The hawk swept back across the pond, its trajectory lower as it headed toward the entrance to the Timken Museum. It landed on the handle of a baby carriage. The mother stood with her back turned to the stroller as she searched for something in a diaper bag.

Gemma lowered her voice. “What do you mean missing?”

Letty glanced back to Gemma. Whatever that was, it didn’t sound good. She kept half her attention on Gemma, the rest on the bird.

The hawk leaned forward, as if trying to see past the cloth draped over the carriage to find what soft morsel might wait inside.

Letty’s mouth went dry, and she clapped her hands, hoping to startle the bird into flight.

It ignored her.

The animal would have no reason to hurt a child. But if the past year had taught her anything, it was that she couldn’t assume it would act predictably. Things were different now. Very different.

Letty shifted to the edge of her seat.

The bird turned, meeting Letty’s gaze. Its eyes reflected a flat, predatory black.

“Shoo.” She stood, clapping her hands again in its direction and moving closer. “Excuse me?” She called out to the mother, who was still busy digging through the baby’s bag.

The hawk kneaded its claws against the stroller’s handle.

“You’re not going to believe this.” Gemma turned her way.

Letty didn’t break eye contact with the bird. “Hang on.” She strode toward the carriage, the bird not moving an inch. A few other tourists turned to look, but no one moved to help.

The mother plucked a pacifier from the bag and turned. A shriek tore out of her, and she threw herself toward the carriage.The bird took off in a flutter of indignant feathers, and a wail came from inside the stroller as the mother hurried to wheel the child away.

Letty finally let go of a breath and turned back to Gemma, who seemed only now to have realized what had been happening with the hawk. They both watched as the bird disappeared over the roof of the museum.

Gemma refocused on Letty, and lines creased around her eyes. “Cody Crawford’s gone missing.”

“Crawford?” Letty tried to place the name. “That’s the large mammal guy, right?”

“Yeah. That’s him. He’s been up in Alaska working on our polar bear case. Seems he went out to the incident site and got lost in the woods.” She cringed, whether from worry or as an acknowledgment of how bad that sounded, Letty couldn’t tell.

Gemma dropped the phone back into her purse. “Search and Rescue’s out looking now, but they say it doesn’t look good. No sign of him.”

Letty sat on the bench, watching the sky for any sign of the hawk.

The idea that Crawford might just “get lost” in the woods didn’t sound right. She’d spent an hour after work one night browsing the bios for the foundation’s other scientists, mostly out of a perverse desire to know how she stacked up. From what she remembered, Crawford was an experienced field researcher like her, mostly working with large carnivores. He would have known not to go out to the site alone. And, even if he had, he wouldn’t just wander off and not be able to find his way back. When you spent your life working in one unknown wilderness after another, navigation was part of the basic skill package.

Letty closed the lid on her salad, her appetite gone.

If Crawford was missing, chances were good he wasn’t coming back.

***

Excerpt from Unnatural Intent by Brooke L French. Copyright 2024 by Brooke L French. Reproduced with permission from Brooke L French. All rights reserved.

Brooke L. French is a recovering lawyer, author, and boy mom. Her debut thriller, Inhuman Acts, hit number one on Amazon’s kindle charts in both medical thrillers and suspense in 2023, and her second novel, The Carolina Variant continues climbing the charts. Brooke got her undergraduate degree in English from Emory University, followed by a law degree, which, after many long and sometimes fulfilling years of practice, she mainly uses now as a coaster for the cup of coffee she puts down only to type. Brooke lives with her husband and sons between Atlanta and Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.

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We'll Always Have Poison by BJ Magnani July 15 - 26, 2024 Virtual Book Tour!

 

A Dr. Lily Robinson Novel

In this series finale, pathologist Dr. Lily Robinson races around the globe to hunt an assassin who, like her, finds poison the weapon of choice.

A world-renowned climatologist is found dead off the Great Barrier Reef of northern Australia weeks before he’s set to deliver his earth-shattering findings at the international Climate Council conference. Was it greed to maintain the status quo of fossil fuels—or revolutionary new science—that motivated his murder? Can Lily Robinson stop the killer before another climate scientist dies?

With operative and lover JP Marchand at her side, Lily uncovers a cunning plot that endangers world order, and changes the trajectory of her life—forever.

Praise for We'll Always Have Poison:

"We'll Always Have Poison is a grand tutelage in the use of toxins as weapons in this captivating fourth book of the Lily Robinson international thriller series. Dr. Lily Robinson, expert pathologist and undercover assassin, is summoned once again when a key speaker at the International Climate Council is mysteriously murdered. 

When more lives and the world as we know it are in grave danger, Robinson and her cohort (and lover) Agent JP Marchand are charged with exposing and eradicating the new - and global - environmental threats. Trust is hard to come by as a large cast of brilliant scientists and political operatives jockey for dominance and revenge.

Author Magnani's latest book is for readers who love deep and specific details, intricate relationships with tangled pasts and presents, nefarious intentions, criminal masterminds and, of course, poisons."
~ Jule Selbo, screenwriter and award-winning author of the DEE ROMMEL MYSTERY NOVELS

"We'll Always Have Poison is an emotional international adventure of epic proportions. Set on the poisonous points of a right triangle, South Africa, Australia, and Belgium, Magnani takes us on a thrill ride in pursuit of whoever is murdering climate activists in unique ways. 

Lily Robinson, the Queen of all Poisons, is back with her team of mentor and lover, JP, and his partner, Parker, in a global clash with a mysterious villain who might just be the tip of the iceberg for an ominous and sinister organization. For Lily, it is more than business as usual—a trip down memory lane and a peek at a future of potential peace, serenity, and happiness. 

In pursuit of the baddie, Magnani weaves in scintillating marine biology tidbits, fascinating historical and cultural detail, and the savoring of delicious food. We'll Always Have Poison is a fabulous read on multiple levels and one not to be missed."
~ Matt Cost, award-winning author of histories and mysteries

"Meet Dr. Lily Robinson. She’s smart and sophisticated and a little bit vulnerable, too. She’s also very dangerous. Why? Because she knows everything about poisons and how they work and how to use them in clandestine service to the U.S. government. 

She’s no superhero, but she’s unique in the male-dominated world of thriller fiction, and she’s back in We’ll Always Have Poison—a big, new adventure, a globe-hopping page-turner that will sweep you up, then surprise you, then leave you completely satisfied. Don’t miss it."
~ William Martin, New York Times Bestselling Author of Back Bay and December ’41

Praise for the Dr. Lily Robinson series:

"A breathtaking puzzle of beautifully written words that provide vivid pictures. A terrifying account of our world today."
~ Dr. Charles Steinberg, Longtime Executive Vice President, Boston Red Sox on The Queen of All Poisons

"A refreshingly unconventional hero in a fitfully effective thriller."
~ Kirkus Reviews on The Power of Poison

"…fast-paced action juxtaposes nicely with the personal dilemmas… The result is another engrossing tale that is highly recommended for political thriller readers."
~ Midwest Book Reviews on A Message in Poison

Book Details:

Genre: Suspense Thrillers
Published by: Encircle Publications, LLC
Publication Date: July 17, 2024
Number of Pages: 284
ISBN: 9781645995241 (ISBN10: 1645995240)
Series: A Dr. Lily Robinson Novel, #4
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Encircle Publications

Read an excerpt:

CHAPTER 1

The Northeast Coast of Australia

Mountainous clumps of staghorn coral littered the seafloor like remnants of an exposed grave. The diver edged along the reef. He remained focused. Determined to capture the growing destruction, staccato flashes from his underwater camera reflected off the remaining bright purple sea fans. Delicate air bubbles floated above while he photographed the masses of stark white ‘bones.’ Closer to the shore, waves crashed over adjacent brain coral without effect. The coral sat unmoved; their pale fissures lifeless, devoid of thriving soft polyps.

Diving off this isolated stretch of beach had once been wondrous—all varieties of colorful aquatic life captured by the camera lens. Gone were the majestic manta rays that swam at his side, their broad wings flapping as they searched for zooplankton. Only a few remaining ornate butterflyfish, glorious in their brilliant orange-yellow stripes, darted in and out of the coral in search of polyps.

The change was undeniable. Bleaching had progressed. How could the Great Barrier Reef come back from this latest insult? The diverse ecosystem he had documented over the last fifteen years continued to collapse. He stopped. His fins fanned through the water, stirring the sand below. The ocean gasped for breath.

Tiny coral polyps had taken fifty million years to build the reefs. By comparison, human impact took less than two hundred years to unravel Mother Nature’s work. If these bastions of marine life died, the world would lose fifty to eighty percent of its oxygen emitted via plankton and photosynthesizing bacteria. A quarter of the planet’s marine life would lose their habitat, as coral reefs provide food, shelter, and protection for spawning. And, as lower organisms disappeared, those higher up the food chain, too, would be threatened.

The discouraged diver headed back to shore, lost in thought, believing the Great Barrier Reef was on the precipice of death. Only the sounds of his breathing filled his ears. Soon, he planned to meet with the Climate Council and deliver his report. What he would say would turn the world upside down. He made a mental note to call the Council Chair and request the presence of a security service at the conference.

Another diver hid, and watched, within the mounds of bleached coral. Her mask and snorkel allowed her to see the seafloor yet stay undetected—no bubbles to give her away. Strapped to her left leg, a diving knife remained ready. She took a few shallow breaths and waited. When her target stopped to remove his fins so he could step the remaining yards through the shallows, she made her move. The pouch at her side writhed in undulations. Using a set of snake tongs, she pulled the sea serpent from the bag, and with her own fins beating like a dolphin’s tail, she swam silently to the unaware diver and positioned the head of the snake at his exposed ankle. The bite was swift. The snake, agitated from its journey in a blind pouch, squirmed and lunged with a second bite. The man stumbled. Gravity pulled him face-first into the water, his mask slipping off the top of his head.

The woman returned the snake to the pouch, grabbed her victim’s camera, and swam along the shore with the deftness of a water ballerina. When she reached a dense cluster of orange mangroves, she rose from the ocean like a sea creature adapted to land. Hidden behind a tree, she dropped the writhing bag onto the sand and loosened its opening. In one swift gesture, she sliced off the serpent’s head. A spurt of dark fluid missed splashing her face—the turn of her head, too quick. Picking up the still wriggling pieces, the lithe diver cast them into the ocean, knowing the fish would finish off what she had started.

Damp, blond tresses curled in ringlets spilled from under her diving cap as she prepared to change. She took a deep breath and, with some difficulty, stripped off her dive skin to expose a royal blue print bikini. Gathering her things, the shapely diver waited for her contact’s arrival and thought, one down.

Back down the beach, gentle waves pushed the man’s body toward the sandy shore, nudging curious ghost crabs in its path. Their scurrying etched tiny trails in the sand, defining their movements. Overhead, squawks from silver gulls filled the quiet as they eyed the lifeless form below. Circling blowflies landed on the salt-soaked corpse, depositing eggs in the eyes, nose, and mouth. By now, the sky was a glorious red with streaks of purple, blue, and gold. Polluted air created a spectacular sunset as particles of smoke and dust reflected beams of brilliant light. And when the bright was replaced with the dark, only a ribbon of stars lit the heavens.

CHAPTER 2

Boston

My name is Lily Robinson, and I’m on the upside of my recovery from a gunshot wound suffered at the hands of a terrorist. Remnants of my past stay with me, plague me, tangled in what’s to come. It’s the past I now hear knocking at my door. And maybe the future, too…

***

Excerpt from We'll Always Have Poison by BJ Magnani. Copyright 2024 by BJ Magnani. Reproduced with permission from BJ Magnani. All rights reserved.

 Author Bio:

BJ Magnani’s fascination with toxicology led her to a career in pathology and laboratory medicine. She is Professor of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Emerita at Tufts University School of Medicine and the author of the Dr. Lily Robinson suspense thriller series (The Queen of All Poisons, The Power of Poison, A Message in Poison, We'll Always Have Poison and the short story collection Lily Robinson and the Art of Secret Poisoning) about a Boston physician recruited by the U.S. government as a covert assassin. A portion of the proceeds from her novels helps women receive free breast and cervical cancer screening through the College of American Pathologists Foundation.

You can learn more about Dr. Magnani, her work, and her Poison Blog at: 
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A Matter of Faith Ghost Hunter by Martin J. Best Book Tour! @SilverDaggerBookTours #GhostHuntersSeries #mjbestauthor @martin151265

 

 

A complex and engaging blend of paranormal urban fantasy and occult horror! 

A Matter of Faith

Ghost Hunter I

by Martin J. Best

Genre: Paranormal Urban Fantasy 

Fledgling Ghost Hunter Malachi Hunter is back with a vengeance in the first full-length novel of the macabre Ghost Hunter series!

Lonely paranormal investigator Mal yearns to find some direction and true happiness in his life. His world is rapidly changing- and not necessarily for the better. That is until he receives a fateful call which will once again put his eerie expertise into play. Fiercely independent single parent Teena Maunder is determined to handle anything which dares to cross her path. She is resolute and determined. However, when her home becomes the scene for a terrifying and baffling haunting, Teena appears to have met her match. Turning to Mal for help, the scene is set for a deadly paranormal onslaught. Mal quickly finds himself embroiled in a supernatural battle unlike any he has faced until this point. He could very well be out of his league this time. Be that as it may, the stakes could not be any higher as a blossoming romance has ignited between Mal and Teena. This could finally be his chance to claim the love and happiness he so desperately craves. All that stands in the way is a hideous entity which has entirely different plans!

Come join Mal as he continues his journey to become an elite paranormal investigator. When you have managed to regain your composure, be sure to check out the other chilling titles in the Ghost Hunter series!

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Of Gods and Ghosts

Ghost Hunter II

Everyone hold onto your hats! Intrepid paranormal investigator Malachi Hunter has returned in the second novel of the Ghost Hunter Series. It is time to step it up a notch!

Resolute ghost hunter Malachi Hunter is no longer the lonely outcast that he once was. He is now armed with blossoming confidence and sheer tenacity. This transformation is undoubtedly due to Mal’s new crack team of ghost hunters. His fierce partner Teena and her clairvoyant daughter Carolyn fit Mal like a glove. A good thing too…because the eerie job of ghost hunter is about to get increasingly terrifying and precarious.

In the midst of investigating a strange and peculiar haunting, the freshly formed group of ghost hunters have new and terrifying challenges unexpectedly thrown their way. Occultists are battling to awaken and gain control of Camulos, the mythical Pagan God of Warfare. The consequences of this evil rebirth would be catastrophic. Mal and his team will soon face danger on a scale unlike anything they have seen. Horrific and unimaginable!

At the same time, a betrayal is afoot. An insidious force is working behind the scenes to break up this new team of ghost hunters before they even have a chance to start the ball rolling.

Will they overcome such insurmountable odds and prevail? Or are things on Earth about to drastically change in a way nobody could possibly envision!

Be sure to join Mal and his group of phenomenal ghost hunters as they continue their exciting journey. You don’t want to miss the other gripping titles in the Ghost Hunter Series!

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Blood Ties

Ghost Hunter III

Relentless paranormal investigator Malachi Hunter and his team are back in the third novel of the Ghost Hunter Series. Hopefully your sixth sense has prepared you for the ghastly, supernatural terror which is to come in this instalment!

Mild-mannered Charles Chandler is all set to enjoy a well-earned early retirement with his family. However, after they relocate to a new residence, eerie and frightening things begin to take place in their home. A terrified Charles reaches out to Mal, and the hunt begins. Although - who is actually the one being hunted this time around?

At the same time, a fresh band of ruthless occultists have their sights set on a familiar yet deadly target. They are determined to capture and subjugate Camulos, the Celtic God of Warfare. The callous group will soon find themselves on a direct collision course with Mal and his exceptional team. A terrifying supernatural and hard fantasy encounter which is bound to produce some very nasty results.

However, who will ultimately prevail? Mal and his team may be in well over their heads this time. Come join them on their journey and be sure not to miss the other chilling titles in the Ghost Hunter Series!

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Remnants and Revenants

Ghost Hunter IV

Steadfast paranormal investigator Malachi Hunter and his formidable team are back in Book Four of the renowned Ghost Hunter Series. Everything is on the line this time- and the odds are stacked against them in a ghastly fashion!

Retirees, Ray and Christa Brown have taken the plunge into the world of the hospitality industry. They have precipitously invested all their money into buying and restoring the Torre Mews guest house. Unfortunately, the purchase has come with an unexpected and ghostly “fringe benefit.” Mal and his team are once again called into action and tasked with investigating and eradicating this intractable paranormal disturbance.

Meanwhile, this troublesome haunting leads directly to an unsolved murder which is about to create some serious complications for Mal and his crew. Significant occult research has been exposed which could unmask some meticulously hidden and very dangerous secrets. Further, a wicked group known as the Esoterica Foundation has discovered this information and will do whatever it takes to capitalize upon it. The stage is set for the ultimate showdown…and precious lives are hanging in the balance.

Will Mal and his crack team of paranormal investigators be able to connect the dots and solve this case? Or is the world as we know it in for a dose of an entirely new and horrifying reality? Be sure not to miss the other eerie titles in the Ghost Hunter series!

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Pariahs

Ghost Hunter V

Ardent paranormal investigator Malachi Hunter and his crack team return for Book Five of the transcendent Ghost Hunter Series. The group are set to tackle intense and unparalleled challenges which could very well reach beyond their extensive acumen this time!

While renovating a former Roman Catholic orphanage, a construction team has encountered bizarre and unexplained incidents. With the work on the project virtually ground to a halt due to this suspected paranormal activity, Mal and his team are called upon to conduct a ghostly investigation. Whatever could have happened in this lonely orphanage so many years ago? The ghost hunters are about to find out, and the terrifying answer to this question will come in the form of a spiteful poltergeist infestation which will test them to their limits!

While the team of steadfast ghost hunters are busy confronting the troubling haunting- there is another perilous plot afoot. A surreptitious group known as the Partisans of Taranis are zeroing in on the secret gateway to the Summer Lands, which is the home of the Celtic Gods. Discovery of this portal could be the catalyst for death and destruction on an unprecedented scale. Having an insider planted within the Partisan group, Mal and his team of ghost hunters are tipped off about the deadly incursion.

The race is on to prevent this catastrophe in the making…with the outcome very much in doubt! Come join Mal and his crew as they once again confront the unknown. Be sure not to miss the other chilling titles in the Ghost Hunter Series!

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Occultus

Ghost Hunter VI

A predatory entity from religious mythology has attached itself to hapless Seth Bowden, leading his terrified sister to contact the ghost hunters. They agree to investigate, and uncover a disturbing history of mental illness, suicide, and an intelligent haunting.

As the team seek to resolve Seth’s problem, their leader, Malachi Hunter, becomes involved with the police investigation into a horrific ritual murder, finding himself pitted against a member of the Order of Nine Angles, the most dangerous occult organisation in existence, and a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues.

The scene is set, and the ghost hunters face the most difficult and dangerous challenges of their lives. Will their courage and determination be enough to see them through, or is victory beyond their reach?

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Martin J. Best was born in Torquay, England, in 1965, where he lives with his wife, Kim, and their dogs, Shadow and Raven. Dubbed the Prince of Paranormal by antipodean author Mark Carnelley, Martin grew up in an actively haunted house, which probably accounts for his abiding interest in all things supernatural. He has had a varied work life, and spent many years running his own mobile disco business. He now writes full-time, and when not working, is a keen walker, music enthusiast, and ghost hunter.

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Head Case by Bonnie Traymore Book Tour!

A workplace rivalry. An isolated campus. A tragic death.

Head Case

by Bonnie Traymore

Genre: Psychological Thriller 

"Traymore masterfully created a sinister, atmospheric setting that perfectly suited the plot."

Readers' Favorite, 5 stars

A workplace rivalry. An isolated campus. A tragic death.

Never make a major life decision in the wake of emotional turmoil. Cassie Romano learned this the hard way, leaving sunny San Diego for a teaching position at a private school in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York after a painful break-up left her heart-broken and in need of a change.

It all seemed so perfect in June when she came to interview. But now it’s December, and she’s stranded on top of a mountain surrounded by snow, ice, and acres of wilderness, lonelier than ever and bored out of her mind.

When a fellow teacher turns up dead and Cassie receives a cryptic letter from her a few days later, it’s clear to Cassie that something strange is going on at Falcon Ridge Academy. Everyone seems to be writing the death off as a tragic accident, but she’s not so sure.

Cassie has secrets of her own, though, so she’s initially reluctant to get involved. Torn between the urge to protect herself and the desire to investigate further, she decides on the latter.

And the consequences could be deadly.

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PROLOGUE

Kimi

Kimi knows what the other teachers call her behind her back. She’s heard them before, although she’s pretty sure they don’t know she knows.

Here comes the mole.

It’s not like she signed some formal agreement. And it’s not like she had much of a choice. It had all started pretty innocently. Her boss befriending her and then subtly starting to pump her for information.

Then it became an unstated directive. A quick promotion to English department chair in exchange for some hints about who might be plotting behind the woman’s back. Getting her preferred chaperoning duties in exchange for a few tidbits about who might be holding up her latest initiatives. 

And then it became even more complicated.

She wonders how Brooke will take the resignation letter she left in her mailbox yesterday afternoon. It’s a terrible career move to leave now, just two weeks before winter break. But Kimi feels that she doesn’t have much choice. 

It’s not just the strained relationship with the other teachers, although that’s part of it. It’s that she’s pretty sure her boss doesn’t know what she overheard, and it needs to stay that way. She’ll go back to North Carolina and regroup, then come back for the rest of her belongings some other time.

As she enters the deserted Cortlandt train station and starts walking towards the tracks, she feels a chill run up her spine. It’s dead still on a frigid Saturday morning. No commuters. Not another passenger in sight. But she has a nagging sensation that she’s not alone.

Is someone following me?

She stops for a moment and turns to look behind her. Nobody’s there. She glances out the window to the parking lot, but the view is obstructed by a thin layer of ice. Then she takes a deep breath, steadies herself, and makes her way over to the staircase that leads down to the train tracks. 

The hairs on the back of her neck are standing up, but she reminds herself there’s a good chance she’s overreacting—to all of it. And for a moment, she considers that she might be making the biggest mistake of her entire career.

Too late to second-guess myself now.

When she lifts her foot to start down the stairs, she freezes, reacting a split second too late to the sensation of a presence behind her. In an instant, she’s flying headfirst in the air looking down at the cold, menacing metal stairs. 

She closes her eyes and braces herself, incapable of emitting the terrifying scream that’s welling up inside her.

ONE

Cassie

I accepted this position last summer, in the wake of a gut-wrenching breakup. You’d think after he broke my heart, he would at least have been gentlemanly enough to offer to move out of our apartment and let me stay put. 

But that’s not how it happened. He reminded me that it was his apartment first, which is true. Then he offered me a small sum of money. And then he gave me a deadline to find a new place. It was all very businesslike.

“There’s someone else?” I asked.

“Does it really matter?” he replied. “What’s the point in doing this to yourself, Cassie?”

He tried to deny it at first, to spare me the sordid details. But I eventually got most of the story out of him. We’d been living together for over a year. Dating for over two. I thought we were “going somewhere.” Our sex life had never been electrifying, but it was satisfying and comfortable, and that was enough for me.

When things cooled off a bit, about six months before he dropped the bomb on me, I figured that was just how it was in a long-term relationship. I’d never lived with anyone before, so I had no frame of reference.

Then our silly little arguments stopped. He began to act polite—the way you interact with a relative stranger—like he didn’t care enough to fight back. I felt something was up. Something had changed, but I didn’t dare bring it up. I held my breath and waited to see if things would go back to normal. 

I guess on some level a woman can sense when she’s losing a guy, I just wasn’t ready to face it. Because for me, getting involved with someone is a lot more complicated than it is for the average person. In hindsight, I suppose I can see that the relationship was never all that great. He probably did me a favor by ending it. 

But it was all I had at the time, and I wasn’t ready to let go. So when he told me that, yes, there was someone else, I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach. I have my pride, most of the time, but it seemed to be eluding me that day. 

I’d like to say I held my head high and stormed out when he fessed up, but that’s not what happened.

“You better be sure about this,” I offered. “I don’t give second chances.”

“I’m in love with another woman. I’m sorry. It’s over.”

Then he turned from me and walked out the door.

So when I went to a conference in New York City the following week and learned about a teaching position at a boarding school thousands of miles from my California home that offered faculty housing, it seemed like it was meant to be. I could pocket my payoff from Evan, regroup, start over, and live happily ever after, following a proper but brief mourning period. I had just turned thirty so I didn’t plan to pine away for too long.

Obviously, I wasn’t thinking straight. I’ve stranded myself on top of a mountain in rural upstate New York, surrounded by acres of woods. A two-hour trek to New York City on a good day. 

What was I thinking? Who am I going to meet here? 

One thing I’ve learned from this experience is never make a major life decision in the midst of emotional turmoil.

I moved here from San Diego, totally unprepared for the insane winter weather we’ve been having here. Falcon Ridge Academy sits near the top of a medium-high peak of the Catskill Mountains on a plateau overlooking the Hudson River far in the distance.

It all looked so beautiful when I came to interview back in June. The day was clear and breezy, the setting a bucolic wonderland. I imagined long walks in the woods surrounded by vibrant fall colors where I would clear my head and heal my heart. A respite from the rat race. I’d write. I’d think. I’d grow stronger.

Now it’s December, and the campus feels more like a minimum-security prison: isolated, creepy, and desolate. The walls of my four-hundred-square-foot apartment feel like they’re closing in on me as the bare branches of the tree outside my bedroom window scrape at it with each gust of wind. Long, craggy fingers trying to claw their way inside. 

From a distance, the structure I’m housed in seems to teeter on its foundation, threatening to tumble down the steep mountainside with every gust of wind. It’s perilously close to the drop-off behind it. I was surprised that there’s no real barrier there, aside from a row of stubby, round sage green shrubs that dot the perimeter of the grounds behind my building.

Winter arrived early, with a vengeance. And although the weather warmed up a bit today, there’s still snow piled up outside from a “squall” last week. At least I’m learning some new vocabulary words. That’s a blinding snowstorm that comes out of nowhere and makes it impossible to drive, see, or basically do anything, including walk from my apartment to the dining commons. I have no sense of direction. I’m sure I’ll get lost and freeze to death or fall down the mountain before this winter is over. And it’s just getting started.

Could this possibly get any worse?

But as I stare down at the alert on my phone, I realize I shouldn’t have asked that question. They’ve called an emergency meeting of all faculty and staff that starts in twenty minutes. On a Sunday. And it’s supposed to be my weekend off.

I thought we outlawed indentured servitude, but apparently not. For nine months of the year, they own me, and they know it. I forgo the primping—there’s nobody to impress anyway—throw on some clothes, grab my jacket, and head out the door.

***

Kimi Choy is dead.

I heard our head of school say it, but it’s not registering. I feel detached, like I’m watching a movie. I’m not sure if that’s because I’m in shock or because I’m simply a terrible person. I was pretty close to her, at least until recently. Shouldn’t I be feeling something?

Other people are reacting. I see a few eyes tearing up, but I can’t seem to get my brain around it. The fact that this happened out of the blue. The fact that she was totally fine when I saw her Friday afternoon—and now she’s gone. The fact that she died from a fall down the stairs at the Cortlandt train station. 

Why did she go there, one of the most deserted stations around, and one that’s at least twenty miles south of us? There are busier ones closer to our school she could have used.

And then I realize I’m probably in shock. I think back to when I arrived last August. Kimi was my department chair, and she went out of her way to make me feel welcome.

 I’d never worked at a boarding school before, but she was a veteran. She was really friendly and offered some tips about where to get my hair cut and how to stay sane. She warned me that I would need to get some distance from the place on my weekends off. And she was really supportive when I told her about my break up and what a hard time I was having.

Bonnie Traymore is an author, educator, and consultant. A world traveler, she loves to include vivid settings in her novels. She is also an accomplished non-fiction writer, historian, and educator with a doctorate in United States History. She has taught at top independent schools in Honolulu, Silicon Valley, and New York City for over 20 years, and she has taught history courses at Columbia University and the University of Hawaii. Originally from the New York City area, she resides in Honolulu with her husband but frequents the Hudson Valley and New York City areas.

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